Steering and leaning system for a vehicle

Abstract

A steering and leaning system for a vehicle includes a steering unit, a driving unit, and a control unit, each of which is adapted to be mounted to a main body of a vehicle. The driving unit is mounted between two spaced-apart front wheels of the main body, and includes an adjusting member that is driven swingably by the steering unit for controlling a moving direction of the vehicle. The control unit includes a control member that is connected movably to the adjusting member such that the swing movement of the adjusting member drives the main body to lean. The control unit is telescopically adjustable to be connected to different height positions on the adjusting member, thereby adjusting a lean angle of the main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A steering and leaning system adapted for use in a vehicle, the vehicle including a main body that includes two front wheels spaced-apart from each other in a left-right direction, said steering and leaning system comprising:
 a steering unit adapted to be mounted to the main body; 
 a driving unit adapted to be mounted to the main body between the front wheels, and including an adjusting member that is driven swingably by said steering unit for controlling a moving direction of the vehicle; and 
 a control unit adapted to be mounted to the main body, and including a control member that is connected movably to said adjusting member such that, by virtue of said control unit, the swing movement of said adjusting member drives the main body to lean; 
 wherein said control unit being telescopically adjustable to be connected to different height positions on said adjusting member, thereby adjusting a lean angle of said main body. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said adjusting member is formed with a groove; and 
 said control member has a control segment inserted into said groove, and movable along said groove during the telescopic movement of said control unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said driving unit further includes a gear subunit interconnecting said steering unit and said adjusting member. 
     
     
       4. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said gear subunit includes:
 a first gear driven rotatably by said steering unit; and 
 a second gear meshing with said first gear and connected co-movably to said adjusting member, such that rotation of said first gear drives said adjusting member to swing via said second gear. 
 
     
     
       5. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said adjusting member includes a plate body having:
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface that is opposite to said front surface; 
 a top surface that interconnects said front and rear surfaces; and 
 a bottom end portion that is connected to said second gear, and that has opposite front and rear faces serving respectively as a bottom part of said front surface and a bottom part of said rear surface, said groove being formed from said top surface toward said bottom end portion, and extending through said front and rear surfaces. 
 
     
     
       6. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said adjusting member further includes:
 a receiving body that is connected to a front end of said plate body, and that cooperates with said plate body to define a receiving space for receiving said control member during the telescopic movement of said control unit; and 
 a connecting body that is connected to a front end of said receiving body, and that is adapted to be connected to a steering connecting rod of the main body of the vehicle which is connected between the front wheels, such that the swing movement of said adjusting member changes a moving direction of the front wheels via the steering connecting rod, thereby changing the moving direction of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       7. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said control member further has a main segment that has a bottom portion disposed in front of and connected to said control segment. 
     
     
       8. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said control member is configured as one of a hydraulic rod, a threaded rod, and a telescopic rod which has an adjustable length. 
     
     
       9. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said steering unit includes a handle member, and a transmission rod interconnecting said handle member and said driving unit. 
     
     
       10. The steering and leaning system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said handle member is configured as one of a steering wheel and a handlebar.